Cap with flip-top compartment

ABSTRACT

A cap ( 10 ) for use with a container, such as a bottle, tube, or can, wherein the cap ( 10 ) provides a flip-top storage compartment ( 16 ) operable to store one or more small objects in close association with the container&#39;s contents. In one contemplated embodiment, the cap ( 10 ) is adapted for use with a conventional pill bottle containing a primary medication, and the storage compartment ( 16 ) is used to store a secondary medication, such as aspirin.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is related to and hereby incorporates byreference an issued U.S. Patent entitled “Screw Cap with Flip-TopCompartment”, U.S. Pat. No. 427,906, filed Jul. 26, 1999 and issued Jul.11, 2000, and an issued U.S. Patent entitled “Spray Bottle Cap withFlip-Top Compartment”, U.S. Pat. No. 427,069, filed Jul. 26, 1999 andissued Jun. 27, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to caps and lids having internalstorage compartments. More particularly, the invention relates to a capadapted for use with a conventional container, such as a bottle, tube,or can, wherein the cap provides a flip-top storage compartment which islarge enough to store one or small objects, such as, for example,aspirin tablets, in close association with the contents of thecontainer.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] It is often desirable to have small doses of a supplementary orsecondary medication conveniently available for immediate use, possiblyin conjunction with use of a primary medication. For example, arterialocclusion during a heart attack results from platelet aggregation orclumping in the blood. Aspirin alters this process by preventing furtherclotting within the heart during a heart attack, thereby substantiallyincreasing survivability. Thus, the American Heart Associationrecommends taking aspirin at the first sign of a heart attack; and anestimated 10,000 lives could be saved annually if this recommendationwere followed. Similarly, regular use of aspirin after a transientischemic attack or minor stroke can reduce the occurrence of additionalstrokes; and it is estimated that thousands of strokes and 100,000deaths worldwide could be prevented through daily, low-doseadministration of aspirin.

[0006] Nevertheless, many heart and other patients carry their primarymedications but do not carry aspirin. One reason for this may be theinconvenience of having to carry a separate bottle of aspirin inaddition to one or more bottles of the patients' other medication(s).One solution is to carry only a few aspirin tablets, which may, forexample, be wrapped in tissue. Unfortunately, though this results inless carrying inconvenience, the small tablets are easily misplaced orlost, for example, at the bottom of a purse. Furthermore, those that doregularly carry aspirin, in a bottle or otherwise, are forced, duringthe onset of a heart attack, to locate both their primary medication andthe aspirin, open both child-proof containers, and administer bothmedications. It will be appreciated that successfully accomplishing thisredundant process during the stress and strain of a heart attack isunlikely.

[0007] Due to these and other problems in the art, an improved mechanismis needed whereby small doses of secondary medications may be keptconveniently available for immediate use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention overcomes the above-described problems toprovide a cap for use with a conventional container, such as a bottle,tube, or can, wherein the cap provides a flip-top storage compartmentoperable to store one or more small objects in close association withthe container's contents. In one contemplated use, the cap is used tostore small doses of secondary medications, such as aspirin, in closeassociation with a primary medication (e.g., a heart medicine such asnitroglycerine), such that both are easily available for immediate use.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the cap broadly includes a cap bodyand a flip-top lid. The cap body is partitioned into a bottom portionand a top portion, wherein the bottom portion is threaded or otherwiseoperable to cover and secure to an opening of a container, and the topportion defines, in conjunction with the flip-top lid, the storagecompartment. The flip-top lid is hingedly or similarly connected to thecap body and operable when closed to retain pills or other objectswithin the compartment.

[0010] In use, the cap replaces a conventional cap of an existingmedicine bottle or other container, including, for example, containersfor pills, pastes, and sprays for health-related concerns such as heartproblems, asthma, arthritis, migraines, muscle pain, strokes, anddiabetes. Thus, for example, aspirin, having a beneficial effect onthese and other health-related concerns, may be conveniently carried inthe storage compartment provided by the cap so as to be accessible forimmediate use when needed, such as during the onset of a heart attack.

[0011] These and other important aspects of the present invention aremore fully described in the section entitled DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF APREFERRED EMBODIMENT, below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described indetail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

[0013]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first preferred embodiment of anexterior portion of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an interior portion of theembodiment shown in FIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a second preferred embodiment ofthe present invention; and

[0016]FIG. 4 is an isometric view showing an alternative lidconfiguration of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, a cap 10 is shown constructed in accordancewith a first preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein thecap is adapted for use with conventional screw-top or similarcontainers, including, for example, common pill bottles. The cap 10 isoperable to store one or more small objects in close association withthe container's contents. In one contemplated use, for example, the cap10 is used to store small doses of secondary medications, such asaspirin, in close association with a primary medication such that bothare easily available for immediate use.

[0018] The preferred cap 10 broadly comprises a cap body 12 and aflip-top lid 14. The cap body 12 provides both a cap for the container(not shown) and a storage compartment 16 suitable for storing smallobjects. The cap body 12 is preferably an elongated cylinder, though theconcept of the present invention is independent of any particular shape;thus, alternatively, the cap 10 may be square, pyramidal, or otherwiseshaped, as desired.

[0019] A partition 28 or floor divides the elongated cylindrical capbody 12 into a bottom portion and a top portion 22. A bottom portion 20is adapted to cover and secure to an opening in the container. To thatend, for example, an exterior surface of the cap body 12 may provideknurls 24 for facilitating gripping or turning the cap 10, and,referring also to FIG. 2, an internal surface of the cap body 12 maypresent threads 26 for coupling with a threaded container opening.Alternatively, the cap 10 may be of the push-on-pull-off variety,wherein a stop or catch (not shown) replaces the internal threads.Additionally, conventional child-proof safety features may beincorporated into the bottle cap 10 to hinder or prevent removal of thecap 10 by a child.

[0020] The top portion 22 of the cap body 12 defines, in conjunctionwith the lid 14, the storage compartment 16. The dimensions of thecompartment 16 depend largely upon the positioning of the partition 28within the cap body 12, in that the partition 28 provides a floor of thecompartment 16 and the top portion 22 of the cylindrical cap body 12provides a side wall 30. The compartment 16 is preferably at least largeenough to store one to three common aspirin tablets, with three suchtablets requiring approximately one cubic centimeter of space.

[0021] Additionally, the top portion 22 of the cap body 12 preferablypresents a small opening 32 forming a female portion of a catchmechanism for securing the lid 14 to the cap body 12. Adjacent theopening 32, the cap body 12 may present a bevel 34 to allow insertion ofa fingernail or thumbnail underneath the secured flip-top lid 14 to aidin opening it.

[0022] The flip-top lid 14 is operable to cover the compartment 16,thereby securing its contents. The lid 14 is preferably connected to thecap body 12 by a hinge 36 or similarly moveable or flexible connection.The lid 14 presents a protrusion 38 corresponding to the opening 32 andthereby forming a male portion of the catch mechanism. Thus, when thelid 14 is closed over the compartment 16, the protrusion 38 is receivedwithin and engages the opening 32 so as to secure the lid 14.Furthermore, as desired, the lid 14 may present a textual or symbolicmessage indicating the existence of the compartment 16 or the nature ofits contents.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 3, a second preferred embodiment of the cap 100is shown adapted for use with spray bottles or spray cans, including,for example, asthma inhalers or sublingual nitroglycerine. In thisembodiment, the cap body 112 is longer and the bottom portion 120thereof is deeper in order to accommodate spray nozzles or similarmechanisms. The bottom portion 120 may not be threaded, as spray bottlecaps are typically of the push-on-pull-off variety. The storagecompartment 116 and lid 114 are substantially similar as in the firstpreferred embodiment, described above.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 4, the cap 200 is shown having an alternativelid configuration wherein the flip-top lid of previously describedembodiments is replaced by a flip-up lid 214 which pivots in thecompartment 216 to affect either a closed or open position. In theclosed position, the flip-up lid 214 is flush with the top portion 222of the cap body 212 and no access is provided to the compartment 216. Inthe open position, a pill opening 240 in the lid 214 is exposed throughwhich pills may be added to or removed from the compartment 216.

[0025] In operation, a user replaces, as necessary, a container'sexisting conventional cap with the cap 10 of the present invention. Theuser may place tablets, pills, or other forms of medication or othersmall items in the storage compartment 16 and then closes the lid 14until the protrusion 38 enters and engages the opening 32. Thereafter,the stored items are available for immediate use whenever and whereverthe bottle is present. To access the stored items, the user inserts afingernail or thumbnail under the lid 14 via the bevel 34 and appliesupward force to separate the protrusion 38 from the opening 32 and flipopen the lid 14.

[0026] For example, a person at high risk of a heart attack may replacethe existing conventional cap of their heart medication bottle, tube, orspray can with the cap 10 of the present invention. One or more aspirintablets or other medication may be placed within the storage compartment16 and the lid closed 14. As mentioned, aspirin use upon onset of aheart attack improves survivability, carrying aspirin in a closelyassociated relationship with heart medication provides a distinct healthadvantage. When the user perceives the possible onset of a heart attack,he or she, having their heart medicine bottle immediately available,flips open the lid 14 and consumes the aspirin. Thus, the presentinvention provides the benefits and advantages of immediate aspirinavailability while freeing the user from the inconvenience of carryingan aspirin bottle or the loss risk associated with carrying individualpills.

[0027] From the preceding description, it will be appreciated that thecap 10 of the present invention provides convenient storage for smalldoses of secondary medications, such as aspirin, in close associationwith a primary medication such that both are easily available forimmediate use. Although the invention has been described with referenceto the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached drawings, it isnoted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made hereinwithout departing from the scope of the invention as recited in theclaims. Thus, applications are contemplated for the tool hereindescribed that require only minor modifications to the tool asdisclosed. For example, it will be appreciated that the cap storageconcept of the present invention is easily adapted for use withcontainers of various sizes, shapes, and uses. Furthermore, various lidconfigurations may be used, alternative to the flip-top and flip-up lidsherein described, without departing from the concept of the presentinvention.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what isclaimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includesthe following:
 1. A container cap comprising: a cap body presenting atop portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top and bottom portionsare separated by a partition and the bottom portion is adapted to couplewith a container; and a lid operable to closedly secure to the topportion of the cap body such that the top portion and the lid combine todefine a compartment separate from the container.
 2. The container capas set forth in claim 1, wherein the container is selected from thegroup consisting of: bottles, pill bottles, spray bottles, tubes, cans,spray cans.
 3. The container cap as set forth in claim 1, wherein thecap body is shaped substantially as an elongated cylinder.
 4. Thecontainer cap as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bottom portionpresents threads for coupling with a threaded opening of the container.5. The container cap as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bottom portionof the cap body is operable to receive a nozzle portion of thecontainer.
 6. The container cap as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lidis hingedly connected to the cap body.
 7. The container cap as set forthin claim 1, wherein the lid is pivotably connected to the cap body. 8.The container cap as set froth in claim 1, wherein the compartment is atleast large enough to store one common aspirin tablet.
 9. The containercap as set forth in claim 1, wherein the compartment is approximately nolarger than required to store three common aspirin tablets.
 10. Acontainer comprising: a container body substantially defining a space; acap body presenting a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the topand bottom portions are separated by a partition and the bottom portionis adapted to couple with the container body; and a lid operable toclosedly secure to the top portion of the body such that the top portionand the lid combine to define a compartment separate from the container.11. The container as set forth in claim 10, wherein the container isselected from the group consisting of: bottles, pill bottles, spraybottles, tubes, cans, spray cans.
 12. The container as set forth inclaim 10, wherein the container contains heart medication.
 13. Thecontainer as set forth in claim 10, wherein the cap body is shapedsubstantially as an elongated cylinder.
 14. The container as set forthin claim 10, wherein the bottom portion of the cap body presents threadsfor coupling with a threaded opening of the container.
 15. The containeras set forth in claim 10, wherein the bottom portion of the cap body isoperable to receive a nozzle portion of the container.
 16. The containeras set forth in claim 10, wherein the lid is hingedly connected to thecap body.
 17. The container cap as set forth in claim 10, wherein thelid is pivotably connected to the cap body.
 18. The container as setforth in claim 10, wherein the compartment is at least large enough tostore one common aspirin tablet.
 19. The container as set forth in claim10, wherein the compartment is approximately no larger than required tostore three common aspirin tablets.
 20. A container cap comprising: acap body shaped substantially as an elongated cylinder presenting a topportion and a bottom portion, wherein the top and bottom portions areseparated by a partition and the bottom portion is adapted to couplewith a container; and a lid connected to the cap body and operable toclosedly secure to the top portion of the cap body such that the topportion and the lid combine to define a compartment separate from thecontainer, with the compartment being approximately no larger thanrequired to store three common aspirin tablets.